Beijing has expanded its register of protected historic gardens, adding nine new sites to the list in its second round of designations. The move, published by the Beijing Municipal Government, brings the city’s total number of protected historic gardens to 34, signaling an effort to preserve cultural architecture.
Among the newly designated sites are the Beijing Confucian Temple and Imperial College in Dongcheng District, along with several locations in Haidian District: Tsinghua Garden, Dajue Temple, the Yuan Dynasty Capital City Wall Relics Park (Haidian Section), Bussiere Garden, and Wanshou Temple. Mentougou District adds the historic Tanzhe and Jietai temples to the registry, while Daxing District contributes the Relics of the Tuanhe Temporary Palace.
The Imperial College, or Taixue, serves as a significant historical anchor for this latest expansion. As the nation’s highest seat of learning during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, it remains the only fully preserved site of an imperial college of its rank in China. Its inclusion alongside the 4.2-kilometer Haidian section of the Yuan Dynasty Capital City Wall Relics Park highlights the city’s focus on integrating water management, landscape design, and heritage preservation.
Tanzhe Temple, which traces its origins to the Western Jin Dynasty, holds the status of the oldest surviving Buddhist temple in Beijing. By placing it under the city’s formal protection registry—which was first established in 2015—officials are formalizing the status of sites that have long served as both cultural landmarks and public spaces. The original 2015 register included 25 iconic locations, such as the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and the Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park.
The Relics of the Tuanhe Temporary Palace provides a distinct look at Qing Dynasty garden design. According to the Publicity Department of the CPC Daxing District Committee, the site combines Jiangnan garden layouts with northern imperial residence styles. It is now accessible to the public free of charge, operating in tandem with the nearby Nanhaizi Park to maintain an ecological and cultural belt in the southern part of the city.
| Registry Status | Total Protected Sites | Key Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Initial (2015) | 25 | Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Jingshan Park |
| Current | 34 | Tsinghua Garden, Tanzhe Temple, Wanshou Temple |
Dajue Temple’s newly protected status rests on the site of a Liao Dynasty temple and features garden design techniques from the Ming and Qing eras.
The registry now encompasses 34 sites. This latest expansion follows the 2015 launch of the register, which initially secured 25 sites.
